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IST Blog: Hanging with Hal

IST’s CEO takes a few moments each month to discuss
important topics.

Hanging with HalWe're Thankful, Grateful and Our Hearts are Full

Last week we had a pivotal Executive Partnership Meeting in Atlanta. Goals, strategies, cross-selling and working collaboratively were a few of the hot topics. There is no question that IST has been incredibly successful over the last 21 years. This year we are approaching eighty million in revenue with over 1,800 employees in 38 cities! However, what we accomplished in the last 20 years may not work for the next 20 years. We need to change, adapt, innovate and reinvent for our future success.

During the Partnership Meeting, Ike Reighard, IST’s Chief Ethics Officer, gave a powerful presentation on what happens when companies become complacent. He quoted from a book entitled “Leading Change” by John Kottler who published the book back in 2012. A few years later, Time Magazine listed it as one of the twenty-five most influential business management books ever written. Kotter said that complacency, even a little complacency can create big problems. Andy Grove, Co-Founder of Intel, echoed the same sentiments when he said “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.” As Ike said, all of us need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Words of wisdom.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we all have a lot to be thankful for as we spend time with friends and family. In many ways, I consider my fellow employees as an extension of my own family. Working hard and having fun goes hand in hand if you’re an employee at IST. We go out of our way to create fun moments across the board from Blackman Bucks, fun meetings, pizza parties, Fun Day and all of our amazing rewards and recognition programs throughout the company. We are very fortunate in a world where competition can be brutal.

As we move closer to the end of this year, I challenge all of you to reflect on what you have accomplished in the past and what you need to do to improve yourself and the company you work for. The success and future of IST will really be determined by the success of our employees across the board. It has been absolutely amazing to see IST’s growth year after year. There is no question that we will have an equally amazing road ahead of us. The key is to grow by minimizing issues, selling more deals, grooming our employees for future roles, keeping a lid on expenses and coming up with new solutions to work smarter. As I always say, if it’s not broke, break it. From my family to yours, I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.